Good News

Editorial

By Fr. Gerald Curry, S.F.M.
January/February 2003

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"We need to tell others what happened
here these past two weeks."

These words of Fr. Jack Lynch expressed the feelings of many of us,
as our Assembly and Chapter meetings came to an end.

After well over a year of preparation and two full weeks of prayer and discussion, our Assembly/Chapter meetings 2002 came to an end. We were joyful and felt we had made progress in our journey as Scarboro missioners. This was indeed for us, "Good news."

We had re-committed ourselves to the task of witnessing to the reign of God in our world. We had established some concrete priorities. We had committed ourselves to continue our journey as a community of priests and laity. We had discussed the use of our central house here in Toronto. And we had chosen a leadership team to guide us in the next five years.

This issue presents a snapshot of our General Assembly and XIth Chapter meetings held here last July and August. It is an attempt to share with you, our partners in mission, some of what was said and some of the events of the two weeks. We had started with a short five-day retreat given by Fr. Ron Rolheiser, an Oblate missionary who urged us and helped us to slow down and ponder and pray about our lives as missionaries.

The highlight of each day was the celebration of the Eucharist in the music, language and garb of the cultures where we serve. What celebrations they were. What expressions of missionary life.

A special highlight was alumni day when many of our colleagues and their families joined with us in celebration.

At mass on the last day, Fr. Ken MacAulay, representing the committee that was chosen to prepare our meetings, gave the homily. He shared what were for him highlights of the meetings:

"I feel that there is a strong desire for a deeper family and community relationship. priests and lay members, not only working together, but more importantly, living out the Gospel message to love and support each other. I am very proud...

of Scarboro's efforts to build up the local Church, local priests, religious and laity;
of Scarboro's commitment to speak out for the downtrodden, the poor, and the disadvantaged;
of Scarboro's efforts to bring about not peace, but peace with justice;
of Scarboro's respect for the indigenous peoples and religions and their concerns for nature and the environment;
of Scarboro's willingness to be prophetic and not merely to say what is 'politically correct.'

"Finally, I am proud of the fantastic spirit of our Assembly/ Chapter meetings; priests and lay people struggling together with respect for each other, with honesty and sincerity, trying to be open, to listen, and to understand each other.

"My prayer is that this spirit will continue to grow and deepen in the months and years ahead."

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